15+ Ways To Say "Stop It" In Spanish: The Ultimate Guide To Essential Commands And Regional Slang

Learning how to say "stop it" in Spanish is one of the most crucial and context-dependent phrases a language learner can master. Unlike a simple one-word translation, the best way to deliver this command—whether you’re playfully telling a friend to "cut it out" or urgently demanding someone "halt"—depends entirely on your relationship with the person, the severity of the situation, and even the Spanish-speaking country you are in. As of December 2025, Spanish usage continues to favor short, powerful imperative forms, and understanding the nuances between verbs like parar, detener, and dejar is key to sounding natural and being understood accurately.

This comprehensive guide breaks down the essential Spanish vocabulary for "stop it," moving beyond the textbook answers to explore the formal, informal, and regional slang expressions used across the globe. Mastering these variations will instantly boost your conversational fluency and topical authority on the subject, ensuring you can communicate effectively in any scenario, from a casual joke to a serious intervention.

The Essential Core: Three Universal Ways to Say Stop It

Before diving into regional slang and complex conjugations, every Spanish speaker relies on three core, universal phrases. These are the most common and versatile translations for "stop it" and should be your go-to in most situations.

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1. ¡Para! (Stop/Stop It)

The verb parar means "to stop" or "to halt." The word ¡Para! is the most direct and widely used informal command (the *tú* imperative form) for telling someone to stop an action they are currently doing.

• Usage: Extremely common, informal, and versatile. Use it with friends, peers, or children.
• Example: ¡Para! Me estás haciendo cosquillas. (Stop! You are tickling me.)
• Nuance: To explicitly include the "it," you can add the direct object pronoun lo (the neutral "it"): ¡Páralo!, though this is often unnecessary as the context usually makes the meaning clear.

2. ¡Basta! (Enough/Stop It)

The word ¡Basta! literally translates to "enough" but is used frequently and forcefully to mean "Stop it!" or "That's enough!"

• Usage: Strong, universal, and often used when you are annoyed, frustrated, or demanding an end to a situation. It is an interjection, so it doesn't change based on who you are speaking to.
• Example: ¡Basta! No lo soporto más. (Stop it! I can't take it anymore.)
• Nuance: This is a powerful, standalone word that conveys a sense of finality.

3. ¡Ya! (Now/Enough)

While ya means "already" or "now," as a standalone command, ¡Ya! is a very common, colloquial, and informal way to say "Stop it!" or "Enough already!"

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• Usage: Highly informal and often used to express exasperation, especially when a situation has gone on too long.
• Example: ¡Ya! Deja de molestarme. (Stop it! Stop bothering me.)
• Nuance: In many contexts, ¡Ya! is the Spanish equivalent of "Knock it off!" or "Cut it out!"

Formal Commands and Polite Alternatives

In Spanish, respect is paramount, and you must adjust your command based on formality, especially when speaking to elders, superiors, or people you don't know well. This requires using the *usted* imperative form or a different verb altogether.

The Formal Imperative: Detener and Parar

The verb detener is often more formal than parar, meaning "to stop," "to detain," or "to hold."

• ¡Detente!: The informal (*tú*) command.
• ¡Deténgase!: The formal (*usted*) command. This is often used by police or in legal contexts.
• ¡Pare!: The formal (*usted*) command for the verb parar. Use this when you need to be respectful but still direct.

Polite Requests and Indirect Commands

If you want to be polite or soften the command, use a phrase that asks for the action to stop rather than demanding it.

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• ¿Podrías parar, por favor? (Could you stop, please?)
• Por favor, no continúe. (Please, do not continue.)
• Te ruego que pares. (I beg you to stop.)

Mastering Context: Idiomatic Expressions and LSI Keywords

To achieve true topical authority, you must recognize that "stop it" often implies "stop doing that thing," which requires a different verbal structure using the verb dejar (to leave, to let, to stop).

Using Dejar de + Infinitive (Stop Doing That)

The construction dejar de + [infinitive verb] is the correct way to tell someone to cease an ongoing activity.

• ¡Deja de hablar! (Stop talking!)
• ¡Deja de molestar! (Stop bothering me!)
• ¡Deja de reírte! (Stop laughing!)

The Colloquial "Cut It Out"

When someone is being annoying, teasing, or joking around, the phrase "Cut it out!" is a perfect fit. In Spanish, this is often expressed with the reflexive form of *dejar*.

• ¡Déjalo! or ¡Déjala! (Literally: Leave it/her/him.) This is a common way to say "Stop it!" or "Cut it out!"
• ¡Déjate de bromas! (Stop joking around!)
• ¡Cálmate! (Calm down!) While not a direct translation of "stop it," it's frequently used to indirectly ask someone to stop an excited or aggressive action.

Regional Slang: Sounding Like a Local Across Latin America

The Spanish language boasts incredible regional diversity. Using the local slang for "stop it" is a surefire way to impress native speakers and demonstrate fluency.

Argentinian Spanish (Lunfardo)

In Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay, the *vos* conjugation (known as *voseo*) is common, which affects the command form of parar.

• ¡Pará!: The most common informal command, equivalent to *¡Para!* but with the *vos* conjugation.
• ¡Pará che!: A very colloquial and distinctly Argentinian way to say "Stop it, man/friend!"
• ¡Cortala!: Literally "Cut it," this is widely used to mean "Cut it out!" or "Stop it!"
• ¡Bajate un cambio!: Literally "Lower a gear," this means "Calm down" or "Relax."

Mexican Spanish

Mexican Spanish is rich in informal expressions, often incorporating the ubiquitous slang term *güey* (dude/mate).

• ¡Ya, güey!: A casual, exasperated, and very common way to say "Stop it, dude!" or "Enough already, man!"
• ¡Quieto/Quieta!: Literally "Quiet" or "Still," this is often used with children or pets to mean "Hold still" or "Stop moving."

Spanish in Spain (Castilian)

While the core phrases like *¡Basta!* and *¡Para!* are used, a few expressions resonate uniquely in Spain:

• ¡Venga ya!: Often used to express disbelief or frustration, similar to "Oh, come on, stop it!"
• ¡Corta el rollo!: A slang phrase meaning "Cut the story/scene," equivalent to "Stop the nonsense" or "Cut it out."

Summary of Key Entities and LSI Keywords

To summarize the topical entities and LSI keywords covered, remember these Spanish verbs and phrases:

Verbs & Conjugations: Parar, Detener, Dejar, Dejar de, *tú* imperative, *usted* imperative, *vos* conjugation, *voseo*.

Core Commands: ¡Para!, ¡Basta!, ¡Ya!, ¡Detente!, ¡Pare!, ¡Déjalo!, ¡No sigas!.

Polite & Contextual: ¿Podrías parar?, ¡Cálmate!, Eso es suficiente, Stop doing that, Cut it out, Knock it off.

Regional Slang: ¡Pará che!, ¡Cortala!, ¡Ya, güey!, Mexican Spanish, Argentinian Spanish, Castilian Spanish.

By integrating these 15+ variations into your vocabulary, you move beyond simple translation and gain the ability to communicate the command "stop it" with the appropriate level of urgency, respect, and local flair, solidifying your understanding of this essential Spanish concept.